Do magnets harm the iPhone?

Magnets are all around us, and in the average day, it's typical to come into contact with a sort of magnetic device multiple times daily. But can these magnets cause harm to favourite electronic devices like an iPhone? You may find that a strong magnetic force may cause a slight interference with your phone, but you need not worry about a magnet strong enough to erase data or cause permanent harm to your iPhone.

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Recalibrating north

Have you ever opened the maps application on your iPhone and seen the message “Move away from any interference, or re-calibrate by waving iPhone in a figure 8 motion?” This means your iPhone’s compass was affected by a magnetic field, but will not cause permanent damage.

May the force be with you

An extremely powerful magnet could fry your iPhone's motherboard, erase memory or damage the pixels on your screen. Luckily, chances are you won't have any access to such a strong magnet, as these exist in massive factories and other locations where iPhones are not allowed.

New technologies, new accessories

Although technically, electronics are sensitive to strong magnetic fields, small magnets like the ones used in iPhone and iPad cases, purses, fridges, holsters, docks or speakers are simply too weak to cause damage. Especially if the accessory is made by Apple, you can be rest assured it will be iPhone safe.

Be cautious

While magnets cannot cause harm to your iPhone, you still want to avoid repeated contact with any high strength electro-magnetic fields. If you find that your iPhone has lost data or has malfunctioned, this most likely was not caused by a magnet, and you should contact your local Apple store for support.